Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Every year, Black Friday marks the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. But if you want a happy and present-filled Christmas or Hannukah holiday in 2021, you’ll want to start shopping now, in October.
A number of factors are coming together to complicate gift giving this year, especially for those prone to procrastination. Clogged ports, a stressed trucking industry, labor shortages, higher demand and higher shipping costs are all impacting shipments of toys, electronics, apparel and more. The supply chain issues are not only impacting imports from China, where many of this year’s hottest toys are made, but also shipments within the United States.
“Major retailers are expecting a strong holiday shopping season, but have warned of limited inventories, longer shipping times, labor shortages and fewer discounts,” Morgan Stanley economists recently told investors.
U.S. ports are struggling to keep up with imports
One major pain point in the supply chain is the backlog at U.S. ports. Late last month, CBS News reported that the Port of Los Angeles, which handles 40% of U.S. imports, is facing a record backlog.
“The American consumer’s buying strength is so strong and epic that we can’t absorb all this cargo into the domestic supply chain,” says Gene Seroka, director of the Port of Los Angeles.
East Coast ports are seeing record volume as well. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently reported that it moved more cargo in August 2021 than in any other August on record.
There are plenty of domestic shipping delays, too
Bryan Chan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Of course, unloading cargo from ships is just the first step in getting this year’s hottest toys, apparel and more from Asia to store shelves. Shipments need to be put on trucks, as well. And there just aren’t enough trucks to get everything where it needs to go without big delays.
“There are really on average about 16 available truckload shipments for every available truck to move product out of (ports),” Bob Biesterfeld, the CEO of shipping logistics company C.H. Robinson, told CBS News.
Scott Price, the international president of shipping giant UPS, says he is half-jokingly warning people to “order your Christmas presents now, because otherwise on Christmas day, there may just be a picture of something that’s not coming until February or March.” And the United States Postal Service is bracing for increased holiday shipping volumes by raising rates and slowing the delivery of first class mail, effective October 1. (Send those holiday cards early this year, too!)
Here’s how to avoid the holiday shipping crunch
The nation’s supply chain is stressed, but you shouldn’t be. There are plenty of great pre-Black Friday sales at Amazon, Nordstrom, Kohl’s and other retailers on right now, offering popular electronics, kitchenware, apparel and more at deep discounts. Here are some of the best Pre-Black Friday deals available now, as curated by the CBS Essentials team.
Walmart pre-Black Friday deals
Walmart has tons of tech, makeup, home goods and more reduced right now.
Walmart
Hamilton Beach digital bread maker, $50 (regularly $70)
Walmart
Keurig K-Duo Essentials single-serve and carafe coffee maker, $79 (regularly $99)
Best Buy pre-Black Friday deals
Best Buy has TVs, laptops, video games and more tech on sale.
Best Buy
ASUS 11.6″ Chromebook, 4GB memory, 32GB storage, $119 (reduced from $219)
Ulta pre-Black Friday deals
Find makeup, skincare, fragrances and more reduced at Ulta.
Ulta
Prince U Got the Look vegan eyeshadow palette, $28 (regularly $55)
Ulta
Anastasia Natural & Polished Starter Kit, $17 (regularly $24)
Amazon pre-Black Friday deals
Amazon’s pre-Black Friday sale, featuring what the company is calling “epic deals,” is on now. You can save big on Alexa-powered devices, toys, apparel, kitchenware, beauty and much more. Here’s a sampling of what’s on sale.
Amazon
Echo Show 8, $70 (reduced from $110)
Amazon
Instant Omni Pro 14-in-1 air fryer and convection oven, $250 (reduced from $300)
Amazon
Melissa & Doug Mine to Love wooden play bunk bed for dolls, $40 (reduced from $54)
Amazon
Love, Diana Sing-Along Popstar 13-inch doll and working microphone, $30 (reduced from $35)
Nordstrom pre-Black Friday deals
Nordstrom has markdowns on men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, home and more.
Disney x Casetify insulated stainless steel water bottle
Nordstrom
Keep thirst at bay with this Disney x Casetify insulated water bottle (26 oz.) featuring a retro design of Minnie Mouse or the whole Mickey Mouse gang.
Disney x Casetify insulated stainless steel water bottle, $29
Nordstrom
Nordstrom Snuggle Plush faux fur slipper, $15 (reduced from $29)
GameStop pre-Black Friday deals
GameStop has deals on video games, gaming accessories, action figures and more.
GameStop
The Last of Us, Part II for PlayStation 4, $26 (reduced from $40)
Wayfair pre-Black Friday deals
Find furniture, small kitchen appliances, bedding and more reduced at Wayfair.
Wayfair
The Magic Bullet countertop blender, $40 (reduced from $57)